from
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48
Lay \Lay\, a. [F. lai, L. laicus, Gr. ? of or from the people,
lay, from ?, ?, people. Cf. {Laic}.]
1. Of or pertaining to the laity, as distinct from the
clergy; as, a lay person; a lay preacher; a lay brother.
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2. Not educated or cultivated; ignorant. [Obs.]
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3. Not belonging to, or emanating from, a particular
profession; unprofessional; as, a lay opinion regarding
the nature of a disease.
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{Lay baptism} (Eccl.), baptism administered by a lay person.
--F. G. Lee.
{Lay brother} (R. C. Ch.), one received into a convent of
monks under the three vows, but not in holy orders.
{Lay clerk} (Eccl.), a layman who leads the responses of the
congregation, etc., in the church service. --Hook.
{Lay days} (Com.), time allowed in a charter party for taking
in and discharging cargo. --McElrath.
{Lay elder}. See 2d {Elder}, 3, note.
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